Report: 49ers sign former Ravens LB Gooden

The 49ers have signed former Ravens inside linebacker Tavares Gooden off waivers, according to Scout.com. The Sacramento Bee reports a deal is not official, but could be finalized Monday.

Gooden (6-1, 242), 26, a third-round pick in the 2008 draft, was the subject of trade talks between the Niners and Ravens on Saturday. Baltimore, which was seeking an offensive lineman in return, released Gooden after a deal wasn’t struck.

Defensive coordinator Vic Fangio was a Ravens assistant during Gooden’s first two NFL seasons and Jim Harbaugh’s brother, John, is Baltimore’s head coach. In 2009, Gooden started 12 games alongside Ray Lewis and had 49 tackles. Relegated to a backup role last year, he had 18 tackles in 10 games.

The injury-prone Gooden has missed 22 games in his first three seasons. He dislocated his left shoulder and a tore his labrum last year, missed four games with a concussion and groin injury in ’09 and missed the final 12 games of his rookie season with a hernia. He has also dealt with a recurring neck problem, which affected him during this past training camp.

The signing of Gooden, who has 13 tackles on special teams, would signal the release of another player to make him room for him on the 53-man roster. Inside linebacker Larry Grant has seemingly secured a roster spot with a strong preseason and the Niners released Keaton Kristick earlier today. Fellow inside linebacker Blake Costanzo, who played for special teams coordinator Brad Seely the past two years in Cleveland, is expected to be a core special teams player.

With his special-teams ability, Gooden could be deemed more versatile — and valuable — than rookie safety Colin Jones, who will not play on defense. Jones, a sixth-round pick, is strictly a special-teams contributor.